The Los Angeles Rams, coming off a surprising Week 1 loss to the 49ers, have seen their standing in most national power rankings take a notable hit this week. For Southern California fans, it's a quick shift from preseason optimism to a more cautious "wait and see" approach as the season gets underway.
Following what was described as a very surprising showing against the 49ers, the Rams have slipped in nearly every published ranking. A sample of eight different prognosticators showed an average ranking just over five, reflecting a general consensus that the team's early performance warranted a downgrade. The lone outlier in this sea of adjusted expectations was Matt Burke of Complex.com, who notably kept the Rams in the top spot despite the loss and the unfortunate injury to new acquisition, Myles Garrett.
Many of those who have moved the Rams down expressed a certain level of debate over just how far the team should drop. Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, for instance, moved the Rams from number one down to five. He articulated a common sentiment, noting that "the big debate is how far they should plummet" due to their opening flop. Vacchiano also suggested that this early setback could be a "travel-induced anomaly," but warned that another loss to the Giants this coming Sunday would likely send the team "in the high teens" in next week's rankings.
USA Today’s Nate Davis also adjusted the Rams from first to fifth, characterizing the defeat as "likely an anomalous defeat." This perspective suggests that while the loss was unexpected, it might not be indicative of the team's season-long potential. Other writers, however, took a more significant view of the stumble. Mike Florio, for example, made one of the most drastic changes, dropping the Rams from second all the way to eleventh, a move some observers felt was "a bit of an overreaction."
The reasons cited for the Rams' slide are varied but often converge on two main points: the performance itself and the logistical challenges faced. The decision regarding the team's travel to Melbourne, Australia, prior to the 49ers game has drawn scrutiny. Matt Burke, while keeping the Rams at number one, pointedly mentioned that the team's "decision to arrive in Melbourne, Australia just 28 hours before kickoff" appeared to be costly. This tight turnaround, coupled with the performance, certainly raised eyebrows.
Adding to the team's woes is the injury to Myles Garrett, a recent acquisition. Garrett is now set to miss at least four games as he undergoes arthroscopic knee surgery. NFL Trade Rumors’ Ethan Woodie specifically cited this injury as the reason for dropping the Rams one spot from first to second, even as others considered the broader implications of the Week 1 performance.
Despite the collective adjustment in rankings, a clear "wait-and-see attitude" seems to prevail among many sports writers. The general sentiment is that while the Rams stumbled out of the gate, their ultimate standing will depend heavily on their upcoming performance. The question now for Southern California fans, and for the prognosticators, is whether the Week 1 defeat was a temporary blip or an early sign of deeper issues. The team’s result against the Giants this week, described as surprising contenders, is expected to "move the needle somewhat," and the direction it moves is what everyone will be watching.
